As one of the most highly anticipated new models for 2019, the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor is now officially available in South Africa. With Ford Performance DNA at its core, the Ranger Raptor creates an entirely new breed of exceptionally capable off-road vehicles that pushes the limits in technology, innovation and driving excitement.

"We are excited and proud to unleash the Ford Performance version of the highly successful Ford Ranger, which is also produced at our Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria," says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager Marketing at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

"The Ranger Raptor brings a different customer into Ford showrooms, and delivers bold and aggressive styling matched with immense off-road capability that totally rewrites the rules for the 4x4 pickup segment. We have a passion for bringing the best to our customers, and Ranger Raptor showcases the best of Ford Performance's expertise in performance vehicle design and engineering."

Ready to set a new benchmark in high-speed, off-road capability, Ranger Raptor packs a hefty punch in the pickup segment. The commanding presence delivered by the ultimate Ranger's imposing dimensions and extreme styling is supported by a unique Ford Performance chassis optimised for high-speed off-road driving and go-anywhere capability.

No-nonsense exterior

Take one look at the Ranger Raptor, and you know this off-road high-performance pickup means business. Its imposing stance, with 51mm taller ride height, 283mm ground clearance, 150mm wider front and rear track and 850mm wading depth lets you know that this is a serious off-road performance machine. A 32.5-degree approach angle, and ramp-over and departure angles of 24 degrees, provide impressive go-anywhere capability.

The front fenders are made from durable composite materials for exciting off-road adventures, while the bumper includes LED fog lamps with air-curtain ducts, which reduce air resistance. The flared shape of the fenders have been designed to accommodate the long-travel suspension and BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres that were specifically developed for the Ranger Raptor.

Performance-bred interior

Step inside Ranger Raptor, and you will enter a world where it is unmistakably Ford Performance. The sports seats are uniquely designed and trimmed in Technical Suede for maximum grip, providing optimum support during high-performance off-road driving, while also providing exceptional comfort when cruising in town.

Other sporting details distinguishing the Ranger Raptor include blue stitching and leather accents, as well as the aggressively-styled instrument cluster with distinctive red needles for the dials that emphasise the race-bred credentials.

The steering wheel features perforated leather hand grip sections, paired with Raptor DNA lightweight magnesium paddle shifters for crisp gear changes. The Raptor logo is debossed into the spoke bezel of the steering wheel and a motorsport-inspired "on-centre" marker - a red stripe at the top-middle of the steering wheel - gives you confidence to know where the wheels are pointing.

Powerful Bi-Turbo performance

Of course, it's not enough to merely look aggressive - a vehicle that looks this good needs to deliver great performance and responsiveness too. To that end, the Ranger Raptor is equipped with the new 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine that delivers a maximum of 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque. This innovative power plant offers both high performance and efficiency, thanks to its combination of a small high-pressure turbo and a large low-pressure turbo that work to provide optimal performance throughout the engine speed range.

And you will never have to worry about whether it will be up to the task of handling the stresses of high performance, as the powertrain has been designed from day one for the most powerful and highest stress application. This includes running a torturous thermal cycle on the engine, heating both turbochargers to the point of glowing red for 200 hours non-stop.

The high-grade alloy turbo housing ensures durability up to 860 degrees Celsius exhaust temperature, while the turbo bearings and low-pressure turbo are water cooled to reduce temperature and protect the air induction components.

Unrivalled efficiency

The Ranger Raptor is equipped with Ford's all-new 10-speed automatic transmission, which is created with high-strength steel, aluminium alloys and composites to optimize durability and weight.

Having 10 gears means a wider ratio-span, resulting in better acceleration and responsiveness in all driving conditions, matched to improved fuel efficiency. With more room to optimise gear spacing, gear progression can be customised for more accurate and quicker shifts. It also features real-time adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms engineered to optimise gear selection.

Unique to the Ranger Raptor are steering wheel-mounted magnesium paddle shifters that give the driver ultimate control over the gear change points and driving dynamics.

A tough core

Under the skin, the Ranger Raptor's unique chassis frame is newly-developed and extensively modified for high speeds and endurance in the toughest driving conditions. Built to withstand high-impact off-road encounters, Ranger Raptor's frame consists of various grades of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel, and has been specially designed to support the Ranger Raptor's increased track and wheel travel.

In keeping with its outstanding off-road capabilities, the Ranger Raptor is equipped with an integrated heavy-duty tow bar, which offers a cleaner appearance than the underslung version used on the standard Ranger, while significantly improving the vehicle's departure angle. The design incorporates two easily accessible heavy-duty recovery hooks and gives the Ranger Raptor a 2 500kg towing capacity.

A pair of sturdy recovery hooks are provided at the front of the vehicle too, surrounded by a strong 2.3mm thick bash plate (60-percent thicker than the standard version) made of high-strength steel for enhanced underbody protection for components such as the radiator, power steering system, front cross member, engine sump and front differential.

Tuned for all terrains

To further underline its impressive off-road credentials, the Ranger Raptor's Terrain Management System (TMS) includes an exciting Baja mode, inspired by Mexico's famous Baja Desert Rally, which enables ultra-responsive, high-speed off-road performance. In this mode, vehicle systems like Traction Control are pared back to allow spirited off-road driving without intervention from the vehicle's on-board systems. Gear selection is optimised for maximum performance, and the mapping will hold gears longer and downshift more aggressively.

The Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) is also linked to the TMS, providing varying levels of assistance and responsiveness according to the specific drive mode selected. The TMS is derived from the system used in the Ford Everest 4x4, and incorporates a full range of drive modes including Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand and Rock.

Extreme stopping power

When you need to come to a halt, the braking system on the Ranger Raptor offers extreme stopping power through new and bespoke components. Front braking is performed by twin-piston front callipers, increased in piston diameter by more than 20 percent compared with the standard Ranger to 51 mm, along with 332 x 32 mm ventilated discs. Rear braking performance is also enhanced with 54 mm diameter rear callipers and 332 x 24 mm ventilated discs.

In addition, for the first time on a Ranger, the rear brakes include a separate brake actuation master cylinder and booster to increase braking performance.

Withstand any shock

To better handle the crunching jumps and wild rides of your off-road pursuits, the Ranger Raptor boasts Position Sensitive Damping (PSD) shock absorbers exclusively manufactured by FOX for this model. They provide higher damping forces at extremes for unparalleled off-road capability, and lower damping forces in more moderate conditions for a smoother ride on-road. Front wheel travel is increased by 32 percent, and rear travel by 22 percent compared to the standard Ranger.

The high-performance 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) diameter dampers are supported by aluminium control arms, with protruding shock absorber towers at the front. A bespoke new coil-over rear suspension arrangement features an integrated Watt's linkage that allows the axle to move up and down with very little lateral movement. This enables it to tackle tough terrain at high speed while providing exceptional levels of control and comfort - thus delivering the best of both worlds.

Grip for any terrain

To tackle unforgiving terrain, Ranger Raptor's specially developed BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 all-terrain tyres offer a tough sidewall to take on the most formidable environments with confidence, and an aggressive off-road tread pattern that provides outstanding grip in wet, mud, sand and snow conditions.

Safety and convenience first

The Ranger Raptor is loaded with safety and convenience features that make it suitable for both on and off-road driving. A host of driver-assist technologies are available at the push of a button, incorporating unique design features tailored for the Ranger Raptor.

For instance, Ford's standard SYNC®3 with Navigation system offers a unique "breadcrumb" feature to leave a trail in uncharted areas - perfect for the serious off-roader. And safety being a number one priority, Ranger Raptor is equipped with Ford Stability Control (FSC), incorporating Roll Stability Control (RSC) that was specifically developed for Ford's sport utility vehicle (SUV) range, and has been adapted for this exciting new Ford Performance model. It utilises clever sensors to anticipate and minimise oversteer, understeer and rollover incidents.

"The standout experience of the Ranger Raptor, hands down, is how far you can push it off-road versus any other available standard production road vehicle, and still provide amazing ride comfort on-road," says Damien Ross, chief program engineer, Ford Ranger Raptor.

"Everything about the Ranger Raptor builds on the already outstanding sophisticated feel and functional capability of the Ranger, and then goes further. From a driving dynamic fun standpoint, it is really an exceptionally special vehicle that is designed to flatter the novice and genuinely reward the expert."